1. Have a check-up

Before you start any big project, you'd collect all relevant information, right? Pregnancy is no different. Make an appointment with your GP if you're worried about any long-standing health problems. Raise problems with your periods with your doctor, whether they're too long, short, irregular or heavy. He or she can then check for a hormone imbalances. You will also want to ask your parents if they had difficulty conceiving you or your siblings, as reproductive complications can be inherited. Finally, note if either you or your partner have ever contracted chlamydia. This sexually transmitted disease can lead to infertility if left untreated.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

2. Track your cycle

Knowing when you're most fertile is paramount when planning a pregnancy. Knowing how long your cycle is and which day you ovulate allows you to locate the small window in which you are most likely to have an egg waiting for your partner's sperm.

For most women, these are days 9 through 14 from the start of their menstrual cycle. Consider the first day of full flow as 'day 1' of your cycle. It's best to track your cycle for a minimum of three months so you can create a focused average.

3. Have sex when it counts

Your egg can live in your reproductive tract for about 36 hours, and sperm can survive for a maximum of five days after they've been ejaculated. With this in mind, it's best to make sure you have a substantial welcome party waiting for your newly released egg. That means have sex in each of the five days leading up to your day of ovulation. This increases your pregnancy chances as you'll have built up a good stock of viable sperm that have had time to make their way to the egg for fertilisation.

4. Understand your fertility signs

There are three main ways to monitor your natural fertility:

Basal body temperature

Cervical position

Cervical mucus

Your basal body temperature is the temperature of your body when it's inactive, or at rest. This rises and falls throughout your cycle, and usually goes up on the day of ovulation until your next period. All through your cycle your cervix will change its position, so monitoring this can be an important method of locating where you're at in your cycle: during the beginning of your cycle, and after ovulation, your cervix is in a low position and it rises to the higher position just before and during ovulation. Monitor it by inserting your finger into your vagina and taking note of where your cervix is – does it feel far back or lower down? Finally, be aware of your cervical discharge by noting its consistency and colour: in the day immediately after menstruation most women will detect no mucus. This will change once you approach ovulation, when your mucus is more like an egg white with a slippery wet feel.

5. Invest in a test

If you need a little more help figuring out your fertility window, an ovulation test can help you detect the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge that indicates impending ovulation. Ovulation kits can be bought from any chemist, some supermarkets or online. You use them to test your urine for hormone levels and FYI, it's better for your purse strings to test on a few consecutive days rather than every day of the month. Generally:

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

If your periods are 26 days apart, start testing on the ninth day after the start of menstruation.

If your periods are 27 days apart, start testing on the 10th day after menstruation starts.

If your periods are 28 days apart, start testing on the 11th day after the start of menstruation.

Opinions vary on what time of day you should test, so try to do it about the same time each day.

6. Pop a supplement

Folic acid isn't just important once you've conceived – it can also improve your chances of getting pregnant in the first place. This important B vitamin is necessary in all aspects of the replication of your genes, and research has shown women who take folic acid supplements have less chance of complications when producing eggs – the second biggest reason for infertility. The recommended daily intake of folic acid for all women of childbearing age is at least 400 micrograms; this increases to 600 to 800mcg once you're actually pregnant. Leafy green vegetables are packed with folic acid, and many cereal products are now fortified with it too. But to be sure you're getting enough when you're trying to conceive, experts recommend a supplement.

7. Sort your diet out

Making sure your body is a healthy place for your baby to grow begins with looking after your diet. In addition to focusing on folic acid, you'll need to make sure you're getting enough of specific nutrients like iron (it helps your red blood cells carry oxygen, important when a you're creating a baby), which is found in beef, lamb, leafy greens and oats; calcium (for the bones of your growing baby) from yoghurt, spinach and sesame seeds; as well as vitamin B6, which has been shown to help ward off nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, which you can find in bran, pistachios and tuna.

When stress hormones compete with fertility hormones they always win, which isn't good for your eggs

8. Stop stressing

Easy for us to say, but anxiety is not good for your fertility: when cortisol, the stress hormone, competes with progesterone it *always* wins. Without enough progesterone a fertilised egg cannot be maintained. On top of that, stress depletes your body of important nutrients it needs to keep your fertility in tip top shape.

9. Have orgasms

Obviously a male orgasm is essential for pregnancy, but what about the female orgasm? Research is split on whether or not female orgasms actually help improve the path for the man's semen. What we do know is that orgasms help reduce stress, so it doesn't hurt to enjoy yourself.

10. Have sex a lot

Obviously having sex during ovulation is important, but couples who simply have sex regularly have a greater success rate anyway. Those who have sex at least a couple of times a week on a regular basis are more likely to conceive quicker than people who don't have sex as often.

11. Do it missionary style

We're not saying it'll determine the gender of your baby-to-be, but the deeper the penetration, the more sperm gets to the cervix and the more likely you are to get pregnant. The best position for this is missionary, because it allows the semen to pool around the neck of the womb and creates less wastage.

12. Avoid lube (unless it's natural)

Any artificial lubricant can cause a problem for conception because of its effect on the sperm. The vagina is already a dangerous environment for sperm (or any foreign cells for that matter) but a woman's natural secretions just after ovulation are slightly alkaline, which provides protection for the sperm. Using artificial lubricant can hinder this process and leave the sperm exposed to risk. The best lubrication to use? Foreplay.

MOST POPULAR

13. Quit smoking

Research shows that a smoker has to wait an extra two months to get pregnant compared to a non-smoker. But if you've been fag-free for a year, you have the same odds as someone who has never smoked. This is down to the toxins contained within cigarette smoke, which can affect the fertility of both men and women. The cilia within the fallopian tubes, which guide and move the egg from the ovary, can become damaged and stop working efficiently for your eggs. In men, the same toxins can affect the motility of the sperm, making them less likely to be able to make the distance to your awaiting egg.

14. Be a healthy weight

Being overweight is an obstacle to pregnancy for a few reasons: you're more likely to suffer from menstrual irregularities, as fat cells produce more oestrogen which can interrupt your cycle. Excess skin or a deep-set cervix can make the route for the sperm more difficult, which can translate to a more difficult conception. The ideal scenario is to make sure you're at a healthy weight before you think about conception, as intense training and diet regimes aren't recommended while you're trying.

15. Get enough sleep

Sleep is when your body repairs itself and people who suffer from a lack of sleep are more likely to suffer from menstrual irregularities. Plus, the brain's pineal gland, whichproduces hormones linked to fertility, is affected by how much we sleep. Research suggests people who sleep for less than five hours a night are more prone to obesity or becoming caffeine dependent, both of which can get in the way of pregnancy.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.

Getting healthy just got a whole lot easier

Don't miss out on the latest healthy living news and inspiration direct to your inbox.

Enter your email address:

this is a test error

We will also let you know about discounts and great offers from us, tick this box if you'd rather not know about these.
Hearst Partners would like to let you know about some of their fantastic discounts, special offers, and promotions. We promise you wont be bombarded. Tick here if you would like to receive these.